New guy -> 1st trip underneath the GTS

[pgkeating]

Hi guys,

New to the board within the last couple of weeks.

I have a 68 GTS 340/4 spd, which was under resto by the PO, but now is in my hands.

Yesterday I had it on the lift, so I had some questions:

-It needs upper ball joints, so I might as well do the lowers while I'm in there. Are those lowers pressed into that whole lower with the steering connection or does it come as 1 unit?

- It seems to need shackle bushings on both the top and bottom, both sides. Should I do the bushing at the front of the leaf too? BTW, I have 6 leafs per side. Is that any indication of SS vs. other? Am I going to have trouble getting shocks to fit?

- The front rotors/pads are shot. Any ideas on best vendors for those? I generally replace bearings while I'm in there. My local guy showed the rotors, bearings and seals, but no pads???? How the heck could that be?

Thanks,
Pete

 

[Burntorange70]

Hi guys,

New to the board within the last couple of weeks.

I have a 68 GTS 340/4 spd, which was under resto by the PO, but now is in my hands.

Yesterday I had it on the lift, so I had some questions:

-It needs upper ball joints, so I might as well do the lowers while I'm in there. Are those lowers pressed into that whole lower with the steering connection or does it come as 1 unit?

- It seems to need shackle bushings on both the top and bottom, both sides. Should I do the bushing at the front of the leaf too? BTW, I have 6 leafs per side. Is that any indication of SS vs. other? Am I going to have trouble getting shocks to fit?

- The front rotors/pads are shot. Any ideas on best vendors for those? I generally replace bearings while I'm in there. My local guy showed the rotors, bearings and seals, but no pads???? How the heck could that be?

Thanks,
Pete

You canget a front end rebuild kit from

www.p-s-t.com
or
www.justsuspension.com


I think the lowers come presed in already but the uppers will need pressed in to the A arm.


I would change the front bushings too while you are at it. They will need pressed out and the new ones pressed in. Hard to say what springs you have. unless they have a lot of arch in them shocks will not be an issue and if they do have a lot of arch all you need to do in get a little longer shock is all.


Parts store should have all the brake parts even the roters and esecially the pads. It is good to have a part number for the parts guy. Or I have seen replacment roters on E bay before.

 

[grumpuscreature]

Hi guys,

New to the board within the last couple of weeks.

I have a 68 GTS 340/4 spd, which was under resto by the PO, but now is in my hands.

Yesterday I had it on the lift, so I had some questions:

-It needs upper ball joints, so I might as well do the lowers while I'm in there. Are those lowers pressed into that whole lower with the steering connection or does it come as 1 unit?

- It seems to need shackle bushings on both the top and bottom, both sides. Should I do the bushing at the front of the leaf too? BTW, I have 6 leafs per side. Is that any indication of SS vs. other? Am I going to have trouble getting shocks to fit?

- The front rotors/pads are shot. Any ideas on best vendors for those? I generally replace bearings while I'm in there. My local guy showed the rotors, bearings and seals, but no pads???? How the heck could that be?

Thanks,
Pete

First off, welcome to FABO! The lower ball joints and the steering arms are all one unit that is held on by 2, half inch fine thread bolts that attach it to the bottom of the spindle. The disc brake ball joint is different from the drum brake ones.
The upper ball joints do not press into the upper arms, they screw in and the socket is available at most parts stores.
6 leafs per side was standard on the heavy duty suspension which your GTS should have. I'd change the front bushings while I had it down too. A local spring shop can do this for cheap or you can do it yourself. Best way I've found to remove the old ones is to burn them out with a torch and clean the spring eye up with a ball hone. Not a fun job. Shocks should be no problem to find. You can get anything from Monroes to KYBs, pick your poison.
Pad availability can be spotty. Try www.rockauto.com and if they can't hook you up try a Mustang vendor. The early ('64-'66) Mustangs used the same calipers and pads. That is based on your Dart having the small bolt pattern Kelsey-Hayes discs.
FWIW Mancini Racing sells an upper control arm bushing tool that makes the job enjoyable and only costs around 30 bucks. They also have the rest of the weird tools to make a front end rebuild less of a hassle. Hope this helps.

 

[jomoper]

Welcome to fabo :cheers:

 

[pgkeating]

I ordered the ball joints, rotors, pads & bearings today.

I will do all the bushings on the control arms too. Thinking I should use poly bushings....any thoughts there?

Thanks,

Pete